Freddy Peralta’s Future in Milwaukee: Brewers Weigh Their Ace’s Value Amid Trade Buzz

For now, the Milwaukee Brewers are holding firm: Freddy Peralta isn’t on the trade block-at least, not unless someone blows them away with a blockbuster offer. The front office, led by GM Matt Arnold, is reportedly content to enter 2026 with Peralta anchoring the rotation, even if that means risking his departure in free agency next winter. So far, no team has come close to meeting the Brewers’ asking price, and they’re not in a rush to settle for less.

But let’s be clear-everything’s on the table if the right deal comes along. And no one knows that better than Brewers manager Pat Murphy.

Murphy, who’s been with the organization since Peralta’s MLB debut in 2018 and took over as manager two seasons ago, isn’t shy about how he feels. He’s watched every pitch Peralta has thrown in the big leagues. This isn’t just about baseball for him-it’s personal.

“I love being part of his career,” Murphy said during the Winter Meetings. “I’ve seen every pitch he’s made in the big leagues.

It’s personal to me. And I love the man.

And I hope he’s a Brewer.”

That kind of connection doesn’t come around often. And it’s not just sentimentality-Peralta is coming off the best season of his career.

In 2025, he earned his second All-Star nod and finished in the top five in Cy Young voting. He racked up a career-high 17 wins and topped 200 strikeouts for the third straight year.

At this point, he’s not just Milwaukee’s ace-he’s one of the premier pitchers in all of baseball.

What makes the situation even more compelling is the value the Brewers are getting. Peralta is set to make just $8 million next season on a team option.

That’s a bargain for a frontline starter in today’s market, especially one with his track record. Over eight seasons, he’s made 162 starts and posted a 3.59 ERA.

He’s been the definition of consistent-and consistently dominant.

But with that kind of performance comes a price tag, and Murphy knows it. Watching the deals being handed out at the Winter Meetings only reinforced the reality that Peralta is due for a major payday.

“He’s due to be a wealthy man,” Murphy said. “Have a lot of acreage if he wants it-maybe beachfront acreage … wherever he wants it in multiple islands.”

The Brewers are facing a classic dilemma: hold onto a star pitcher in his prime and risk losing him for nothing, or trade him now and hope the return is worth the loss. Either way, it’s a high-stakes decision for a franchise trying to stay competitive in a loaded National League.

Peralta’s been with Milwaukee since 2015, when the team acquired him as a prospect. He debuted at age 21 and has grown into the face of the rotation.

At 29, he’s in the heart of his prime. Trading him wouldn’t just be a hit to the team’s pitching depth-it would be an emotional gut punch.

Eight years in the same uniform builds bonds, and Murphy made it clear just how much that matters.

“You know the player, you know what he brings, and you know your connection with him,” Murphy said. “And when he’s not there for you, you’re like, ‘God, I miss him.’”

So what’s next? That’s the million-dollar question.

The Brewers could hold onto Peralta into the season, see how the team performs, and reassess closer to the trade deadline. If they’re in the hunt, they might ride it out and take their chances in free agency.

If not, they could flip him midseason and try to reload.

There’s also the option to move him sooner-this offseason-when he’d offer more value to a team looking for a full year of control. That would maximize the return, but it would also mean parting ways with their ace before Opening Day.

Murphy, for his part, is ready for whatever comes next. He trusts the front office to make the right call, even if it’s not the one he’d prefer.

“I think they know what they’re doing,” he said. “My role is to take whatever guys we have. I hope Freddy is one of them.”

But he’s also a realist. If Peralta is gone before the season starts, Murphy knows the drill.

“And then you just turn the page, keep going,” he said. “That’s part of our world.”

For now, Freddy Peralta is still a Brewer. But in baseball, “for now” can change in a hurry.